Earle Thompson Interview, July 10, 1991

Earle Thompson describes his tenure as dean of the Mansfield Library at the University of Montana (UM) from 1964 to 1982. He offers his opinions on the four university presidents under which he served, and he discusses the liberal culture on campus during the 1960s and ‘70s. He talks about his specific focus on increasing access to the library’s materials, which included accommodations for persons with disabilities. He discusses how the library developed a core of specialized holdings to better assist students and faculty. Thompson recalls the construction of the new library building in the 1970s, his plans to make it a functional space, and his frustrations with budget constraints. He compares the new building to the old library building which he describes as a warehouse. He notes that his greatest challenge as dean was overseeing the reduction of resources, especially periodicals. Thompson concludes by mentioning the library’s acquisition and development of the Mike Mansfield archival collection which included artifacts, Mansfield’s political papers, and books.https://scholarworks.umt.edu/umcentennial_interviews/1032/thumbnail.jp